Attachment for the spreader of a sail boat mast



Nov. 11, 1969 F. M. LE COMPTE 3,477,402

ATTACHMENT FOR THE SPREADER OF A SAIL BOAT MAST Filed Aug. 9, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR fiZMA/K M Zara/m ns ATTORN 5.

Nov. 11, 1969 F. M. LE COMPTE ATTACHMENT FOR THE SPREADER OF A SAIL BOAT MAST Filed Aug- 9. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WN/r M ds-Ca/wpnf Nov. '1 1,1969 F. M. LE COMPTE I 3,477,402

ATTACHMENT FOR THE SPREADER OF A SAIL BOAT MAST Filed Aug. 9, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 T'1r:1.E:-

av 36 M Y I IV INVENTOR /Z24/v/r M [E ("oM re' '07 f m RNE b United States, Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This attachment is intended to house the spreader ends and the shrouds and shroud guides thereon as well as to form a smooth protective surface for contact with the sails. The attachment is made of plastic and has a main portion with a longitudinal passage and interior pocket to contain shroud guides.

Brief summary of the invention One feature of the invention is to provide an attachment comprising a main portion formed with a longitudinal passage therethrough for the shrouds as well as an interior pocket to contain the shroud guides and also having a laterally offset portion formed to fit over the spreader ends.

Another feature is to provide an attachment that is made in one piece of resilient molded plastic material and is split throughout its length to permit it to be placed over the shrouds and fitted to the spreader ends.

Still another feature is to provide an attachment whose main portion is suitably scored to allow removal of material for contraction to fit spreaders of smaller sizes.

A further feature is to provide an attachment whose main portion is molded in curved form to conform to an average shroud angle curvature and is sufficiently resilient to accommodate angles over and under the normal curvature molded in the attachment.

While above are prime features of the instant invention, it must be remembered that the sail boats of today are entirely difierent in design and intent, with the result that the sails are becoming increasingly large in square foot area and in addition, in order to get every ounce of speed out of a hull, the jibs are becoming larger also. In view of these facts the jibs used in sailing close hauled (before the wind) extend aft beyond the mast and therefore pass outboard of the end of the spreader with the shrouds below and above and anchored on the deck. In the past, it has been common practice to tape up the spreader ends and shrouds to thus protect the jib as it works over the spreader end and the shrouds thereon.

Descripton of the drawings In the drawings, like reference numerals designate similar parts in the different figures.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a sail boat showing the mast, spreader and shrouds as well as the sail arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and depicts the arrangement of the mast, spreader, shrouds and anchorages on the deck;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the sail boat shown in FIG. 1 to give a better view of the sail arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the attachment arranged in place on the end of the spreader with the shroud passing therethrough;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the attachment shown in FIG. 4 without the spreader and shroud and shows the laterally offset portion formed to fit over the spreader ends;

FIG. 6 is a section through the attachment shown in FIG. 4 along the line 6-6 and shows the arrangement of 3,477,402 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 the scaling means at the upper end of the longitudinal passage for the shroud to pass therethrough;

FIG. 7 is a section through the attachment shown in FIG. 4 along the line 77 and shows the arrangement of the opening in the laterally offset portion arranged to fit over the spreader ends;

FIG. 8 is a section through the attachment shown in FIG. 4 along the line 8-8 and shows the main portion formed with a longitudinal passage therethrough for the shrouds as well as an interior pocket to contain the shroud guides and also having a laterally offset portion formed to fit over the spreader ends; and

FIG. 9 is a section through the attachment shown in FIG. 4 along the line 9-9 and shows the main portion formed with a longitudinal passage therethrough for the shroud.

Detailed description The primary concept of the instant invention is to provide an attachment for the spreader of a sail boat mast to house the spreader ends and the shroud guides mounted thereon as well as to form a smooth protective surface for contact with the sails, said attachment having a main portion formed with a longitudinal passage therethrough for the shrouds as an interior pocket to contain the shroud guides and also having a laterally oflfset portion formed to fit over the spreader ends, the whole attachment being formed in one piece of resilient molded plastic material and split along one side throughout its length.

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are top and side views as well as a section through a sail boat having the hull portion 10 fitted with a mast 11 and a boom 12 mounted thereon. The mast 11 being fitted with spreaders 13 and 14 and shrouds 15 and 16 on the port and starboard sides of the mast to stiffen said mast 11 when under way. The two spreaders 13 and 14 are arranged on opposite sides of the mast and are hinged at the mast end for a slight vertical movement to compensate for mast bow under load. The shrouds 15 and 16, which are usually stainless steel cables, pass freely over the ends of the spreaders. The lower ends of the shrouds 15 and 16 are equipped with turnbuckles 17 and 18 and anchors 19 and 20 while the upper ends are anchored to the mast by clips 21 and 22. This arrangement allows the mast 11 to be strengthened by tightening the shrouds 15 and 16 by means of turnbuckles 17 and 18 and thus stay the mast against movement in a plane at right angles to the hull, is shown in FIG. 2. The loading of the mast by the sails when under way, especially in high velocity winds and if the wind is in gusts, becomes more severe and sometimes results in broken masts. The jib 25 and the main sail 26 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 while the jib 25 is shown in section in FIG. 2 in order to bring out more clearly how the attachment 30 fitted over the end of the spreader 13 and shroud 15 prevents the sail from being chafed. The attachment completely encloses the ends of the spreaders and the shroud guides and shrouds running therethrough to protect them from the weather as well as allow for free movement of the spreader under way. The normal procedure used now is to tape the spreader ends with plastic or cloth tape to protect them and allow for movement and thus prevent the sail from chafing or tearing, especially when the wind is gusty and whips the jib.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, the attachment 30 comprises the main portion 31 formed with a longitudinal passage 32 therethrough for the shroud 15 as well as an interior pocket 33 to contain the shroud guides 34 formed on the end of the spreader 15 and also comprises the laterally offset portion 35 formed to fit over the end of spreader 13. The attachment is formed in one piece of resilient molded plastic material and is split along one side along the lines 36 and 37, as shown in FIG. 5, to

permit it to be placed over the shrouds and fitted to the spreaderlends. It will also be noticed in FIG. 5 that there are scribe lines 38, 39, 40 and 41 formed on the surface of the molded attachment 30 which allow the inside edges to be trimmed along these lines to fit spreaders of various widths. It will also be noted that the extremities of the attachment 30 are formed with depressions at 45, 46 and 47 to allow the ends to be lashed in position using tape, twine or other suitable whipping material to hold the split attachment in closed condition to keep out dirt and water to a great extent and thus protect the spreader end and the shroud passing thereover. It is also possible, if desired, to take lashing cord or twine in lieu of tape to hold the ends in place. It is also possible, if desired, to fit the opening in the laterally offset portion 35 with removable sections to be cut out, as is done on the main body, and so allow spreaders of less height than one inch to be used. The normal opening can therefore be cut down in both directions to accommodate spreaders of various widths and thicknesses. It should also be noted that the molded attachment is designed to accommodate shroud angles of 7 /2 from the vertical, which is an average angle, and due to the resiliency of the plastic material the attachment can accommodate itself to shroud angles above and below the average angle without any problem whatsoever.

Included in the drawings are sections taken through the various portions of the attachment to more clearly show the configuration and form of the interior space and how it accommodates the spreader and shroud.

In practice the attachment would preferably be molded in white in order that it will not mark the sails when contact therewith is made.

It can readily be seen that the instant invention supplies an attachment that is versatile in its application and simple to apply and lash in place and which will protect the spreader ends and shrouds in addition protect the sails from chafing and tearing.

I claim:

1. An attachment for the spreader of a sail boat mast to house the spreader ends and the shroud guides mounted thereon as well as to form a smooth protective surface for contact with the sails, said attachment having a main portion formed with a longitudinal passage therethrough for the shrouds as well as an interior pocket to contain the shroud guides and also having a laterally ofiset portion formed to fit over the spreader ends.

2. An attachment according to claim 1 characterized in that it is made in one piece. a

3. An attachment according to claim 1 characterized in that it is made of one piece of resilient molded plastic material.

4. An attachment according to claim 1 characterized in that it is split along one side throughout its length to permit it-to be placed over the shrouds and fitted to the spreader ends.

5. An attachment according to claim 4 wherein the opposite ends of the main portion over the shrouds and the end of the laterally ofI'set portion over the spreader end are formed to be lashed in place.

6. An attachment according to claim 4 wherein the main portion is suitably scored to allow the removal of material for contraction to fit spreaders of smaller sizes.

7. An attachment according to claim 4 wherein the laterally offset portion is fitted with removable sections to fit spreader ends of larger sizes.

8. An attachment according to claim 3 characterized in that the main portion is molded in curved form to conform to the average shroud curvature and is resilient enough to accommodate itself to different shroud angles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,318,277 5/1967 Palm 114-102 TRYGVE M. BLD(, Primary Examiner 

